International Health—Many areas around the world are seeking solutions to eliminate endemic, highly-resistant pathogens, such as tuberculosis. There is a recognition that germicidal UV is a robust environmental control that can cleanse large volumes of shared air in high-risk settings. The World Health Organization (WHO) is updating its 2009 TB Infection Control Guidelines to include a stronger emphasis on new evidence-based research findings. New initiatives for global implementation of germicidal upper-air mixing systems are underway through the collaborative development of international guidelines, health facility risk assessments, business models, and publications. Evidence-based guidelines are being developed for worldwide application of germicidal UV for ending the transmission of TB. Our research and educational projects highlight these global efforts to embed germicidal UV air disinfection in engineering and medical best practice for controlling airborne disease transmission. Risk assessments of healthcare facilities in low- to middle-income countries are helping guide this development in a reasoned approach.

Implementation Research—Working in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a new area of focus is studying how various guidelines for TB infection control are implemented, how successful these implementations are and what modifications can be made to make them sustainable.

Hospital-acquired Infections (HAIs)–Patient and healthcare worker safety is a top concern for all healthcare providers. Despite rigorous prevention and elimination measures, some pathogens persist within healthcare settings, resulting in both airborne and surface-borne transmission. New technology to combat these threats is being sold to hospitals, some of which does not have independent verification of effectiveness. We seek to benchmark commercial UV and lighting technology in controlled laboratory studies and conduct demonstration, proof-of-concept testing of innovative devices to lower the overall HAIs within healthcare settings.

Innovative Lighting Applications–The hospital of the future will take full advantage of current and emerging digital lighting technology and smart programming to allow patients to recover in an environment that does not disrupt sleep cycles, nor diminish healthcare workers’ ability to deliver care, especially at night. Additionally, programmable disinfection lighting technology will enable the decontamination of the patient’s environment. Designing complimentary approaches to this new digital environment will take a basic understanding of the role of light for patients as well as healthcare workers. We seek to collaboratively test new lighting paradigms to benefit both health and sight, and to regulate pathogens that may reside in the patient environment.

Indoor Air Quality in Public Spaces–We are interested in understanding the role of UVC air cleansing in public spaces as it relates to airborne infectious disease, especially those such as pandemic influenza other emerging pathogens. Large public spaces–transportation hubs, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas–could be possible points of airborne transmission. How can UVC technology help mitigate potential transmission? A related question arises in understanding if there is a measurable benefit from LEED Certification and related initiatives: Does a green rated building actually produce a measurable improvement in occupant health and reduced absences from work due to illness?